Do check it out----Objectives for Projek Kalsom1. To inspire and encourage students to want to achieve more in studies and life by:a) Helping them develop a positive self-image and sense of confidence through the various activities.

b) Providing positive role models in the facilitators for the students to look up to and aspire to be like.

2. To equip the students with the means to achieve more by:a) Helping them develop and use practical study skills.

b) Developing an interest in and debunking the fear of the English language.

c) Exposing them to the wealth of career and education opportunities available to them after secondary school, and

d) To provide information on higher education funding opportunities (scholarships and loans) available to students.

3. To help them develop good character and values, aside from producing good academic results, thus enabling them to be better citizens.a) Instilling good leadership qualities and team-work via various inter-group and intra-group activities.

4. To encourage interaction between university students abroad and local students from lesser privileged backgrounds in line with the ideals of national unity

What do we do in Kalsom?Through out the 5 days, we will working about the 3 modules of the Projek Kalsom which are:

Effective Study Skills, English Made Easy and What’s Next After SPM?

We will carry out one module for each day. Each module will comprise of various lectures and presentations by selected speakers, group discussions led by well trained and informed facilitators as well as interactive stations and games.

The following would be an introduction to some of the things we would be carrying out during Kalsom 13.

1. Effective Study Skills In this module, participants will be exposed to and guided through various study skills and time management methods. More importantly, the skills and tips to prepare for examinations will be highlighted. We are aware that teaching them how to study is not very helpful as different individuals has different study pattern and style. As such, we will try to expose to them most of the study skills known, so as for them to choose the one best suits their ability and style.

Also, participants will also be introduced to Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. With that, we not only hope to instill good attributes in our participants to help them excel in their studies, but to contribute immensely in their character building as well.

Although there will be a lecture in this module, we will approach the major part of the module via interactive station games to make it more interesting.

2. English Made EasyIn this module, participants will be encouraged to overcome their reservations about speaking in the English language through interactive group work and other activities.

During the English Day, participants and facilitators are only allowed to converse in English, and this is to create a subtle platform for them to start feeling comfortable to speak in English. We will also have role-play and sketch-making sessions for them to have some fun while using English. Overall, the module is to be run in a very informal way as Malaysians tend to speak less due to shyness and are afraid of making grammatical mistakes. By making it informal, it would be helpful to overcome this mental block, and let them express themselves in English.

3. What’s Next After SPM?Post-SPM Career and Education

Participants will be exposed to further education opportunities and financial aid available for them after SPM.

We will do our very best to list out every single financial aid available in this country for them. This would serve not only as a guide for them in future, but also to help them realize that there are aids available for them to pursue a career of their choice. However, these aids are not given to all so therefore they would have to show some merit in order to obtain them. It is our hope that the participants will subtly learn that they need to put in a certain amount of effort before anyone else can help them.

A career fair will also be held to expose participants to a variety of different careers options. Every group would be given 20 minutes in each station which exposes them to various job opportunities, not only the professional jobs, but opportunities in art and music, public services such as fire-fighters and arm forces as well as teaching.

We hope to get some of the real-personnel from each field to be there to answer any of the queries, and at the same time, giving a more realistic picture of the career. By exposing them to all the different careers, we hope that the participants will realize which jobs suit their interest and abilities best thus helping them maximize their potential.

ConclusionHelping them in the job selection process might be slightly early for the participants but at least it will give them a target or a goal to work towards to. This would definitely help when they are preparing for SPM as it keeps them in focus. Together with the study techniques, we hope that this would help them do their very best for the exams. As English now is a necessity rather than an advantageous skill to have, helping the participants to be comfortable with English will give them the confidence they need to carry themselves through out the rest of their studying and working career.

Would encourage any of my blog readers to share with me any event that you come across. As long as the event/activity/initiative is education/charity/youth oriented and is not-for-profit, I would be more than happy to post it to share!